Means for deepening the channels of rivers



2 Sheets-'Sheet -1.

(No Model.)

J. F. SPEARING.

MEANS EOE DEEEENING TEE CHANNELS 0E EIVEES, Nw.

No. 275,534. Eatented-Apr.1o,1883.

Fig 7.

WI TN ES SES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mqael.)

J. F. SPEARING.

MEANS POR DBEPBNING THB CHANNELS 0F RIVERS, sw.

Patented Apr. l0, 1883.

By his .fitta/'110.019 y UNITED STATES APIYIENT OFFICE.

JOHN n. sPEAnINe, OF New ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

MEANS FOR DEEPENlNG THE CHANNELS oF RNERS, sto.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,534, dated April 10, 1883.

Application filed September 12, 1882. (No model.)

l'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known .that I, JOHN F. SPEARING, of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, have invented an Improved Means foIfDeepening the Channels of Rivers, Removing Bars, &c., of which the following is a specification.

, Owing to the constant deposit of sediment in channels of rivers and at their outlets, it

has become an imperative necessity to providesome way of clearing such deposits away, and various means have been introduced, all of which are more or less effective, but are slow and expensive.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved organization, involving a vessel carrying suitable cutters, which will cut up the bed of the channel,or cut a way through a bar and thoroughly stir up the deposit loosened by the cutters,so that it will be carried outof the way by the current or tide.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a vessel provided with my apparatus, the parts beinghmerely indicated and broken away. Fig. 2 is a simi! larview of a transverse section. Fig. 3 is a detailview, showing one ofthe cutters lowered for work. Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing one ofthe cutters elevated above the waterline. Fig, 5 is a detailed viewof one of the cutter-shafts, with the driving-hub and gear thereon; and Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic plan view, merelyindicating the relative positions of the cutters, the tracks they cut beingindicated by dotted lines.

As shown in the drawings, I prefer to employ -two sets of cutters, one being forward and the other abaft the center of the vessel. The two leading cutters are placed on opposite sides of the keel or longitudinal center of the vessel, and the rear ones are similarly placed, so as to follow at or about in the track of the first pair. As illustrated more especially in Figs. 1 and, the forward cutters are smaller in diameter than the rear ones, so that as the vessel moves along at work the leading cutters will cut out a small channel, and the rear cutters, following in the same line, will enlarge upI into the wells entirely above the water-line for repair, or raised within the line of the hull when the vessel is moving from place to place.. It may be found desirable in operation to adjust the rear cutters to cut deeper than the forward ones. The means for adjusting them will presently be described.

Cutters of any suitable character may be employed; but I prefer, as shown in the drawings, a cutter consisting of radially-projecting blades a, secured on the end ot' the rotating verticallyadjustable shaft A.

VIt will be observed that the cutting-blades are inclined somewhat to the vertical plane of the shaft A; or, in other words, the planes or faces of the blades are at an angle to the axisy but will Stir it and throw it upward into 'the water, so that it will be exposed to the full power of the current or tide and carried oft` ont of the way. A vessel thus equipped and driven by any suitable power, by traveling back and forth and by adjusting the depth ot' the cut, may open a channel of any desired width and depth, the matter thrown up by the cutters being carried off bythe current and deposited at some unobjectionable point.

I` will now describe the special Organization of the adjusting mechanism, but first remark that vthe broad principle of my invention is not dependent uponv the details shown, although the organization illustrated is deemed to be practical and efficient and well adapted to carry out the invention. ,f

A water-tight well, B, is built in the hull for the accommodation of each cutter-shaft A. At the upper or deck end ot the well a bearing, G,is provided, in which the vertical shaft A rotates. This bearing consists of a hub stayed by strong radial beams B', so as to form an open support, cover, or spider. The lower bearing of the shaft consists of a hub, D, formed of a heavy piece of metal, and moving loosely up and down on the shaft. This hub is suspended from the beams B' by chains d, so that it may be raised and lowered. The hub is sustained centrallyywithin the well, so as to afford a firm bearing for the shaft, by radial stays or supports E, which arealso formed IOO I1o vided with an elongated hub, h, having notches therein, in which one ofthe pins or boltsp rests, the hub being held up against the pin by the lpin 'g at the bottom of the gear. This hub and vgear-H is loose on the shaft A, sothat by re- -1 5 moving thc'pins theshaft may be adjusted to any height desired. The shaft is driven by the'pin'p which rests in the notch in the hub; fand in order to prevent sudden shocks and strains of the apparatus I provide un elastic packing, g', in the notch in the hub. The gear H is driven by a corresponding pinion, I, on the power-driven shaft l', which turns in suit able bearings. The bearing y shown maybe either mounted on one of the timbers B or on the deck of the vessel.

Above the well I provide an upright skeleton frame, K, having a bearing at the top, through which the shaft A passes. A notched hub, D', similar to that already described, is 3o provided on the shaft above the frame, and any suitable number of anti-friction washers, l, may be interposed between the frame and the hub. 'lhe cross-pin g2, resting in the notch of the hub, supports the entire weight of the shaft upon the frame, as will be well understood. The shaf't may be elevated by means of a block and tackle hung on the frame, and connected with one of the cross-pins of the shaft A, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

As will be observed, thellub D is placed high enough in the well to leave sufficient room to permit theraising of the cutter into the well within the line of the bottom of the vessel without moving the hub when the vessel is moving from place to place or is returning against the tide. Yhen thecntier is to be so elevated, the pins g, which hold the gear H and its hub, are withdrawn, the shaft elevated by the block and tackle by any suitable power, and sustained in its elevated position by shifting the supporting-pin g', which rests in the notched hub D. The gear H, in any adjustment of the shaft, may be secured between any two of the holes in the shaft by the pins g to 55 suit any required depth of cut.

When it is desired to elevate the cutter above the water-line for repair, the hub D is @haar drawn up so as to permit the stays E to'be raised out ot' the way by the chains c. The shaft and cutter may then be elevated and sustained, as above described.

Of course the details above described may bechanged in a variety of ways without departing from the essential principles of my invention. l

Instead of forming the spider or openlframe at theltop of the well of an independent hub,

wC, and braces E', it might be made of metal andcast in a solid piece.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the vessel having the well built therein, the vertical cutter-shaft passing through the well, its bearings, the movable stays or supports sustaining the lower bearing ot' the shaft, and mechanism for raising the shaft and its cutter into the well above the stays, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the vessel having the well built therein, the upright vertically adjustable cutter-shaft, the movable collar or hub which forms its lower bearing, and the movablestays which sustain said bearing, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination,A substantially as set forth, of the vessel, the forward well or wells, the rear well or wells, cutters or stirrers carried in the Wells on upright vertically-adjustable shafts, and mechanism for raising and lowering both sets of cutters, so that they may be set to act at a greater or less depth, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, as set forth, of the ves-- sel, front and rear rotary cutters carried ony downwardly-extending shafts, the forward cutters being arranged to cut a smaller or narrower track than the rear ones, and mechanism for adjusting the cutters, for the purposeset forth.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the vessel, a well or compartment built in the body of the vessel, a vertical rotary shaft carried in the Well, a cutter or stirrer on the lower end of the shaft, and mechanism forraising the cutter up into the well or compartment above the line of the hull or bottom of the vessel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name.

JOHN F. SPEAKING.

Witnesses:

GEORGE B. MADDEN, A. S. PERKINS.

I OCI 

